Apparatus for drying laundry or other items using ultraviolet radiation

Abstract

An apparatus for drying laundry with ultraviolet radiation is provided. One or more ultraviolet light sources emit ultraviolet radiation, which, in various embodiments, is transmitted through a UV-radiation permeable transparent drum containing the wet laundry and other wet articles to be dried. Also provided is a dryer having ultraviolet light sources centrally situated with respect to the drum, wherein the ultraviolet light sources emit ultraviolet radiation directed at laundry in the drum.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus comprising:
 a housing; 
 a laundry receptacle that is rotatably mounted within the housing, wherein the laundry receptacle defines an interior portion that is capable of receiving a load of laundry; 
 a motor that is adapted for rotating the laundry receptacle; and 
 an ultraviolet light source disposed within the housing, wherein the apparatus:
 is substantially without non-ultraviolet heating elements or other non-ultraviolet drying components that are used to dry the load of laundry, and 
 is adapted to use the ultraviolet light source to direct ultraviolet light onto the load of laundry substantially without using non-ultraviolet heating elements or other non-ultraviolet drying components. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the ultraviolet light source is positioned outside an outer perimeter of the laundry receptacle; 
 wherein the laundry receptacle comprises alternating strips of ultraviolet permeable and ultraviolet-impermeable material; and 
 wherein the ultraviolet light is directed through the at least one ultraviolet permeable portion of the laundry receptacle. 
 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein one of the ultraviolet light sources is disposed within the interior portion of the laundry receptacle and is positioned to direct ultraviolet light onto said load of laundry while the load of laundry is disposed within the interior portion of the laundry receptacle. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein an interior surface of the receptacle comprises a reflective material. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the reflective material comprises a mirror. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the reflective material comprises a polished metal. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the reflective material comprises a reflective coating. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the ultraviolet light source is attached to the receptacle. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the ultraviolet light source is situated behind a panel to protect the ultraviolet light source. 
     
     
       10. An apparatus comprising:
 a housing; 
 a laundry receptacle that is rotatably mounted within the housing, wherein the laundry receptacle:
 defines an interior portion that is capable of receiving a load of laundry, and 
 comprises at least a portion of the laundry receptacle that is permeable to ultraviolet light; 
 
 a motor that is adapted for rotating the laundry receptacle; and 
 ultraviolet light sources disposed within the housing and positioned outside an outer perimeter of the laundry receptacle, wherein:
 the apparatus is substantially without non-ultraviolet heating elements or other non-ultraviolet drying components that are used to dry the load of laundry, and 
 wherein the apparatus is adapted to use the ultraviolet light sources to direct ultraviolet light through the portion onto the load of laundry substantially without using non-ultraviolet heating elements or other non-ultraviolet drying components. 
 
 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the ultraviolet light sources are attached to one or more sides of an interior wall of the housing. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the ultraviolet light sources are attached to an interior ceiling of the housing. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the ultraviolet light sources are substantially equidistant from the outer perimeter of the receptacle. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the ultraviolet light sources are attached to an interior floor of the housing. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the ultraviolet light sources are attached to a side of the housing behind the rear of the receptacle. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the ultraviolet light sources are detachably mounted. 
     
     
       17. An apparatus comprising:
 a housing; 
 a laundry receptacle that is rotatably mounted within the housing, wherein the laundry receptacle defines an interior portion that is capable of receiving a load of laundry; 
 a motor that is adapted for rotating the laundry receptacle; 
 a control responsive to a user input to vary an operation of the apparatus; and 
 an ultraviolet light source disposed within the housing, wherein the apparatus:
 is substantially without non-ultraviolet heating elements or other non-ultraviolet drying components that are used to dry the load of laundry, and 
 is adapted to use the ultraviolet light source to direct ultraviolet light onto the load of laundry substantially without using non-ultraviolet heating elements or other non-ultraviolet drying components. 
 
 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising a safety control mechanism responsive to an indication of the presence of a living entity, wherein the safety control mechanism prevents the dryer from operating in response to the indication. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein an access door of the apparatus is transparent and coated with ultraviolet light blocking film. 
     
     
       20. The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the access door comprises a double-paned window, and wherein the ultraviolet light blocking film is applied to respective inner sides of the window's respective panes, such that the ultraviolet light blocking film is positioned between two panes of the double-paned window.